Preparing for one funeral, Van Bibber family hit by triple tragedy

BUENA VISTA — Three people were killed and three more were seriously injured in a head-on crash last Wednesday afternoon on U.S. 24.

Two were pronounced dead at the scene, while the third died Sunday at a Denver hospital.

The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) reported that Noah John Van Bibber, 56, of Littleton, and his 14-year-old son, Caleb, were killed at about 4:18 p.m. May 4 three miles east of Johnson Village on Trout Creek Pass.

Jessa Van Bibber, 8, was in a coma and flown to Children’s Hospital in Denver, where she died.

A brother, Jacob, 19, was flown to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver with serious head and facial injuries.

Wife and mother Christina Van Bibber, 50, suffered bodily injuries and was taken to Heart of The Rockies Medical Center in Salida.

The family was headed to Monte Vista for the funeral of John’s sister, Trixie Blackmon, who died April 29 following a long battle with breast cancer.

Her Rosary was at 7 p.m. Wednesday and the funeral was set for 10 a.m. Thursday.

According to the state patrol, VanBibber was driving a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant westbound when it went into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with a 1999 Ford Ranger pickup truck driven by Lamont Moorman, 57, of Longmont.

Moorman was alone in his vehicle when it went off the right side of the roadway and rolled once down an embankment, coming to rest on its top. He suffered fractured vertebrae, a broken foot and lacerations and was taken to the Salida hospital.

The Mitsubishi came to rest in the roadway facing eastbound and blocked the heavily traveled highway for several hours as on-scene investigation took place. Investigation continues into seat belt use in the Van Bibber vehicle, while it is known that Moorman had his safety belts fastened.

Alcohol and speed were ruled out as factors and the CSP troopers are investigating whether VanBibber fell asleep behind the wheel. He was a neo-natal nurse practitioner at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver.

Funeral arrangements for Noah, Caleb and Jessa Van Bibber are in the care of Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista.